Printer positioning mechanism



R. I. ROTH PRINTER POSITIONING MECHANISM Jan. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 6, 1953 INVENTOR.

l. ROTH ROBERT X f KQ ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1959 R. 1. ROTH PRINTERPOSITIONING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1953 FIG.

FIG. 3

iklil vL INVENTOR.

ROBERT l. ROTH gw a. 99%,,

ATTORNEY United States Patent PRINTER POSITIONING MECHANISM Robert I.Roth, Briarclitf Manor, N. Y., assignor to International BusinessMachines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,532 10 Claims. (Cl. 101-93)This invention relates to totalizer mechanisms and more particularly tocumulative or aggregative printers wherein a plurality of mechanicaldisplacements may be added to position correspondingly a type wheel orbar.

It is common to code decimal numbers in combinational codes. Such codesare employed in calculating machines and an example thereof is thebinary code having the four positions of 1, 2, 4, and 8. In the fourpositions of the binary code, there are 15 possible combinations andthus any decimal number from 1 up to 15, and in addition to 0, may bereadily represented. In addition to the values of the four positionsmentioned, those of the other decimal numbers are obtained as follows: 3is a combination of the 1 and 2 positions; 5 is a combination of the 1and 4 positions; 6 is the combination of the 2 and 4 positions; 7 is thecombination of the 1, 2, and 4 positions; 9 is a combination of the 1and 8 positions; 10 is a combination of the 2 and 8 positions; 11 is thecombination of the 1, 2, and 8 positions; 12 is the combination of the 4and 8 positions; 13 is the combination of the l, 4, and 8 positions; 14is the combination of the 2, 4, and 8 positions; and 15 is thecombination of the 1, 2, 4, and 8 positions.

In calculating machines the presence or absence of the numeric value inany of the four positions is determined by the presence or absence of acorresponding pulse. Such pulses may be made to energize correspondingsolenoids. Hence, the energization of such solenoids may be used todetermine the presence or absence of a numeric value.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for translatingcoded values into decimal values.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide apparatus fortranslating the energization of one or more solenoids into decimaldisplacements which bear a direct relation to the numeric valuerepresented by the energizing pulses and which can be used to effect acorresponding positioning of a type bar or type wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cumulative oraggregative printer that is extremely simple and easy of constructionand yet accurate and reliable in operation.

According to the invention, positioning of a type wheel is efiectedthrough the use of bars corresponding in number to the positions in thecombinational code being read and mounted on a support for parallellinear displacement. Successive numbers of the bars are madedisplaceable by respective ones of the solenoids in amounts proportionalto the numeric values of the energizing pulses. Thus one solenoid willmove all of the bars, another all but one of the bars, and still anotherall but two of the bars. The additive function is obtained by enablingthe solenoids to move their respective bars even though they are alsobeing moved along with another bar or bars controlled by anothersolenoid.

An important feature of this invention resides in the fact that theapparatus may be embodied in a simple construction. In this embodimentthe bars have portions formed of magnetic and non-magnetic material andthe solenoids encompass the bars so as to act directly thereon to eifecttranslation thereof when energized. Each of the bars, except the last,is movable within a range determined by another bar and is biased to anormal position at one end of that range. Hence, it moves with its rangedetermining bar when the later is moved from its normalposition. Thesolenoid for a bar is advantageously mounted on the range determiningbar and hence is always located for most effective action upon themagnetic material of its bar. The range of movement for the bar whosedisplacement effects movement of all the bars is determined by stopscarried by the support. Its solenoid is fixed to the support, also. Thebar movable by all of the other bars may include an extension which isitself a type bar or it may be formed with a rack meshing with a gearfixed to a type wheel. In either case type faces bearing indiciarepresentative of the decimal values of the coded numbers are readilypositioned for a printing.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of. the embodiment taken along the line 22 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the section line 33 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the section line 44 of Fig. l.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawing is that which might be employedwith a machine using the four position binary code discussed above. Foursolenoids are thus necessary to indicate the presence or absence of thefour pulses representative of the coded values and these are generallydesignated 1, 2, 4, and 8. For translating the combinational codeenergizations of the solenoids into corresponding amounts of mechanicaldisplacements, four bars designated respectively 12, 14, 16, and 18 areinserted through the respective solenoids. The solenoids for the threebars 12, 14, and 16 are fixed to the three bars 14, 16, and 18,respectively, while the solenoid for operating the slide bar 18 ismounted on a base plate 10.

The bars are mounted in closely spaced parallel relation. Each bar isreciprocable on pairs of upper and lower rollers located at each end.For example, the bar 12 is supported at its right hand end by upper andlower rollers 20 and 22 and at its left hand end by upper and lowerrollers 24 and 26.

The rollers are mounted on studs projecting from the face of the plate10. As best seen in Fig. 3, rollers 24 and 26 are mounted on studs 28and 30, each of which is headed to hold the respective roller upon it.Eachroller is held in spaced relation from the plate by means ofspindles 31. This spacing is necessary because the bars supported by therespective rollers are encircled by the solenoids.

The rollers hold the bars in spaced relation to the plate 10 by beingformed with grooves 33 about their outerperipheries. The bars are formedwith complementarily shaped edges 35 which cooperate with the grooves inthe rollers to hold the bars against all but endwise displacement. Thelength of the complementary edges on the bars must be such as toaccommodate the full displacement with which the particular bar mayundergo relative to the plate, both that due to the action of its ownoperating solenoid and that due to the movement of the other bars withwhich it is movable.

The bars 14, 16, and 18 are formed so that their movement also resultsin the movement of the bars 12, 14, and 16, respectively. Thus, each ofthese bars is formed into the path of the next adjacent bar.

with a projection 40 (Fig. 1) which extends upwardly Hence, when a loweror master bar is moved to the right as seen in Fig 1, it carries with itthe next adjacent or slave bar which willcarry with it the next upperbar, and so'fortha' It is evident, therefore, that movement of bar 14to'the right will result in movement of bar 12 to the right, and thatmovement of either bar 16 or bar 18 will result respectively in movementof bars 12 and 14 or 12, 14, and 16 to the right.

The upwardly extending projections 40 also serve to define the normalpositions of the bars movable with the bars bearing the projections. Tothis end, tension springs 42 are mounted between the projections anddownwardly extending lugs43 formed on the respective slave bars andconstantly urge the slave bars to the left to their normal positions inwhich the slave bars abut the projections on themaster bars. It shouldbe noted that these normal positions refer to the positions relative tothe master bar and not to a position relative to the base plate 10. Onthe other hand, the normal position for the bottom bar is determined bya stud 32 projecting outwardly from the base plate 10. A second stud 38also is mounted on the base plate to serve as an anchor for the tensionspring 34 hooked at its other end to a lug 1811 depending from the bar18 to urge it to its normal position.

The amounts of relative displacement imparted by the solenoids to theirrespective bars are determined by stops. In other words, a solenoidmoves its respectiveibar until the bar strikes the stop and these stopsare located so that the bar will have been displaced from its normalposition a distance proportional to the numeric value of theenergerizing pulse. The stops for the bars 12, 14, and 16 It has beenpointed out that the solenoids 1, 2 and 4 for moving directly the bars12, 14, and 16 are mounted, respectively, on adjacent bars 14, 16, and18. To this end, the bobbin of each is formed with brackets b, one ateach end, which extend downward to where their split ends are receivedupon the mounting bar. Rivets c may be used to secure these bracketsrigidly to the adjacent bar.

It will be recalled that the solenoid for the bar 18 is secured directlyto the base plate 10. The bobbin thereof is provided with downwardlyextending brackets d, but, unlike the brackets b for the othersolenoids, these are bent inwardly so that they rest upon the base plate10.

are formed as upwardly extending projections on the.

right hand ends of the bars 14, 16, and 18. The upwardly extendingprojection 45 on the bar 14 is so spaced from the right hand end of thebar 12 in the normal position that it will stop the latter after it ismoved a distance proportional to 1" numeric value. Similarly, theupwardly extending projections 45 on the bars 16 and 18 will stop thebars 14 and 16, respectively, when they have undergone displacementsproportional to 2 and 4 numeric values. The stop for the slide bar 18 isa stud 46 projecting outwardly from the face of the base plate 10.Conveniently, a lug 44 depending from the bar 18 strikes the stud afterthat bar has undergone a displacement proportional to the 8 numericvalue.

In order for a solenoid to move a bar, there must be some magneticmaterial associated with the bar. In the embodiment disclosed, the barsare partially formed of a magnetic material. Since a solenoid has theproperty of centering itself upon a magnetic core, it is desirable thata portion of the bar be formed of a non-magnetic material. It can thusbe seen that in order to obtain effective action by a solenoid it isdesirable that magnetic core material terminate at the beginning of asolenoid. Then when the relatively fixed solenoid is energized, it willtend to pull the core, in this case a portion of a bar, into it.

As has been seen in Fig. l, the left hand portions of the slide bars areformed of a magnetic material such as soft iron. These portionsterminate, when the bars are in their normal positions, just inside theleft hand ends of the respective solenoids. The right hand portion ofeach bar is formed of a non-magnetic material such as brass. Each of thebars is mechanically one rigid piece and this may be obtained bydovetailing the abutting ends of the different materials and brazingthese together as along the line 66.

Each of the solenoids includes a bobbin a (Fig. 1) formed of Bakelite orother non-magnetic material. The coil of each solenoid is wired aroundthis. bobbin. Referring to Fig. lit may be seen that the bobbinssurround but do not touchthe respective bars and that clearances existalong both the top and bottom and along the sides of; the. bars.

Suitable fastening means such as rivets 52 and 54'may also be employedto hold them in place.

It may be observed that the solenoids 1, 2, 4, and 8 are staggered withrespect to each other. Obviously this is necessary so that the mountingof one will, not intertere with the mounting of another. Furthermore,the solenoids on adjacent bars must be spaced with, respectto oneanother so that the solenoid on the bar moved by another willnot strikethe latter when the latter isenergized. However, when the mastersolenoid is mounted to the left of the solenoid carried by theslave bar,its position must only be such as to permit the full return of theslavebar to the normal position. Solenoid 8 is an example of such a solenoid,however, it is shown as being spaced from solenoid 4 for purposes ofclarity.

The bars 12, 14, 16, and 18 position a type wheel through an extension80 carried along the upper edge of the bar 12. Thisextension is formedwith a rack 84 which meshes with a pinion 86 rotatably mounted on a"stud 88 carried by the base plate 10. A type wheel 90 is.- alsorotatably mounted on stud 88 and is fixed to the pinion to rotatetherewith.

7 Printing may be effected through the use of a platen, 96 movablerelative to the type wheel 90. A ribbon 92 may be suitably interposedbetween a paper 94 backed up by the platen 96 and the type wheel 90 sothat upon impact between the platen and type wheel the character patternon the wheel opposite the platen will be imprinted upon the paper.

Since in the embodiment shown there are sixteen possible decimal values,if 0 is treated as such a value, the type wheel must have sixteenpossible positions or type faces. The type wheel is so mounted on therack that when all of the bars are in their normal positions the 0 orfirst position of the type wheel is opposite the platen. On the otherhand the parts are'so formed that when all of the coils are energizedthe value 15 at the sixteenth position of the type wheel is opposite theplaten.

It will now be appreciated that the presence of a lf pulse will energizesolenoid I mounted on the bar 14 to move bar 12 from its normal positionwith respect to bar 14 to where it engages the stop 45 on bar 14 andthat the displacement undergone will be such as to effect rotation ofthe type wheel to where the type face bearing the numeral 1 is oppositethe platen 96.

Similarly, if either of solenoid 2, solenoid 4, or solenoid 8 isenergized, the bar 14, 16, or 18'will be displaced respectively to theright an amount effective to position through the bars 12, the bars 12and 14, or the bars 12, 14, and 16, respectively, the type wheel so thatthe 2, 4, or 8 type face is opposite the platen 96. Since thedisplacement of either of the bars 14, 16, and 18 by its respectivesolenoid also results, respectively, in the transposition of the bar 14,the bars 12 and 14, or the bars 12, 14, and 16, it will be evident thatif additional solenoids are energized, additional rotation of the typewheel will result and this rotation will be such as to dispose the typewheel so that the type face bearing indicia of the decimal equivalent ofthe pulse values is opposite the platen. If relative movement is nowundergone between the platen and the type wheel, the coded value will berecorded on the paper.

The solenoids energized from each coded number between the values of 0and 15 together with the bars displaced from normal positions and thecorresponding type wheel position are listed in the following table:

Bars displaced from their respective normal positions Type wheelposition Solenoids While there have been shown and described and pointedout the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to apreferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series of movableparts mounted on said support, succeeding ones of said parts havingdriving connections with preceding ones and stops operable to limitrelative displacements of preceding ones, a stop on said supportdetermining the initial position of the last part, and a series ofselectively actuable devices corresponding to the series of parts andsupported fully and respectively by succeeding parts and the support andoperable to move the respective parts relative to the succeeding partsand the support.

2. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series ofreciprocable parts mounted on said support, cooperating means betweeneach preceding part and succeeding part and between the last part andthe support effective to limit to a fixed distance relative movement ofthe preceding to succeeding parts and of last part to the support inboth directions,-means biasing each of said parts in one direction, anda series of selectively actuable devices corresponding to the series ofparts and supported fully and respectively by succeeding parts and thesupport and operable to displace the respective parts within the limitspermitted by said cooperating means.

3. In an aggregative printer or the like, a series of reciprocable barshaving portions formed of magnetic and non-magnetic material, meansconnecting each of said bars for movement in one direction withsuccessive ones thereof, and solenoids for the different barscooperative With the magnetic material thereon to move the respectivebars relative to the succeeding bars.

4. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series ofreciprocable bars each having portions formed of magnetic andnon-magnetic material and mounted on said support, means connecting eachof said bars for movement in one direction with successive ones thereof,and solenoids for the different bars cooperative With the magneticmaterial thereon to move the respective'bars relative to the succeedingbars, the solenoids for the respective bars being mounted on thesucceeding bars and the support. I

5. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series ofreciprocable bars having portions formed of m e ti c. and non-magneticmaterial and mounted on said support, means connecting each of said barsfor U 6 movement in one direction with successive ones thereof, said'bars each being biased in the other direction, and solenoidscooperative with the magnetic material on the different bars and mountedon succeeding bars and the support to move the respective bars againstthe bias.

6. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series ofreciprocable bars each having portions formed of magnetic andnon-magnetic material and mounted on said support, means on eachsucceeding bar and the support cooperating with each preceding bar andthe last bar to fix displacement range of the precedingg bars and lastbar with respect to the succeeding ones, means biasing each of said barsto one end of the displacement range, and solenoids cooperative with themagnetic material on the different bars and mounted on the succeedingbar and the plate to move the respective bars relative to the succeedingbars and the plate.

7. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series ofreciprocable bars each having portions formed of magnetic andnon-magnetic material and mounted on said support, means on eachsucceeding bar and the support to fix the displacement range of thepreceding bar and thelast bar, means cooperating between each bar andits succeeding bar or the support to bias each of said bars to one endof the displacement range, and solenoids cooperative with the magneticmaterial on the different bars and mounted on succeeding bars and thesupport to move the respective bars to the other ends of theirdisplacement ranges.

8. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series of barsindividually mounted on said support in parallel relation and forendwise movement and formed of magnetic and non-magnetic portions, anextension carried by each succeeding bar at one end which projects intothe path of movement of the preceding bar to urge the latter against theformer, a stop fixed to said support and projecting into the path of thelast bar, a spring coacting between said support and the last bar tourge the last bar against the stop, solenoids encircling respectivelythe different bars at the ends of the magnetic portions and beingmounted on the succeeding bars and support, an extension carried by theother end of each succeeding bar and projecting into the path of thepreceding bar to limit the displacement of the preceding bar by therespective solenoid, and a second stop fixed to said support andprojecting into the path of the last bar to limit displacement of thatbar by the solenoid mounted on the support.

9. In an aggregative printer or the like, a support, a series ofreciprocable bars each having portions formed of magnetic andnon-magnetic material and mounted on said support, means respectively oneach succeeding bar and the support to fix the displacement range of thepreceding bar and the last bar, means respectively cooperating betweeneach bar and its succeeding bar and the support to bias each of saidbars to one end of the displacement range, solenoids cooperative withthe magnetic material on the diiferent bars and mounted respectively onsucceeding bars and the support and energizable to move the respectivebars to the other ends of their displacement ranges, and printing meansconnected with the first bar for positioning thereby.

10. In a translating mechanism, a series of members mounted for relativeand concurrent reciprocal movement with like direction, each of saidmembers except the first member bearing a succeeding relationship to apreceding member, and each of said members except the last memberbearing a preceding relationship to a succeeding member, cooperatingmeans to limit to a fixed distance the relative reciprocal movement inboth directions of each preceding member to its related succeedingmember, certain of said cooperating means upon movement of anysucceeding member acting to move in one direction all members precedentthereto, a series of selectively actuable means for moving from a normalposition each preceding member in relation to its succeeding member afixed distance within limits permitted by said cooperating 1,480,734means, each of said selectively actuable means mounted 17,880,523

upon one of said members and acting directly upon the 1,882,766.

other member to be moved in relation thereto, and means 1,902,060forrestoring each of said parts to said normal position. 2,077,965

References Cited in the file of this patent V 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS723,119 Zweigbergk Mar. 17, 1903 2,687,087

1,324,371 Banzhof Dec. 9, 1919 10* 1 8 Nelson Jam-15, 1924 Tauschek 2Oct. 4, 1932 Bryce Oct. 18 1932 -Dechene Mar. 21-, 1933 Smith Apr. 20,1937,, Knutson Dec. 5, 1939 Christian Apr. 11, 1950 Garbell Feb. 20,1951 Crowell Aug. 24, 1954 Baldwin Sept. 14,1954-

